Best Garlic Studded Leg Of Lamb Recipes

DROP DEAD GORGEOUS - GARLIC STUDDED ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Wash and trim the lamb of any visible and excess fat, dry and set aside.
• Cut the garlic into slivers then, with a very sharp knife, make slits into the meat and insert one in each slit, add a fresh sprig of rosemary if using. Continue until all the garlic (and rosemary) is used up and the meat is studded. Brush the surface of the meat with olive oil then squeeze the lemon juice over the top before seasoning with a mixture of salt, freshly-ground black pepper and a teaspoon of English mustard powder.
• Place the lamb in a roasting tin. Place in an oven pre-heated to 220C/450F/Gas 7 and roast for half an hour. At this point reduce the heat to 160C/320F/Gas 4 and roast the meat for 60 minutes per kilo - a 3 kilo leg will take 3 hours. (A kilo is just over 2 lbs) Simply allow the meat to cook and do not baste.
• When the lamb is ready, take it out of the oven, cover and allow to rest for at least ten to twenty minutes. When you slice the meat you will see that it is studded with garlic, which enhances the flavour of the meat but in a very subtle way.
• Serve with gravy, potatoes of your choice and freshly steamed seasonal vegetables.

GARLIC-STUDDED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Peel and sliver 4-5 cloves garlic. Make incisions in the leg with a very sharp pointed knife (such as small French paring knife). Force the slivers into the incisions and rub the roast well with salt, pepper, and rosemary or tarragon. Place on a rack and roast until it registers 130-135°F when tested with a meat thermometer. Salt again just before removing from the oven. Allow to stand about 10 minutes before carving.
• Serve with white beans, blended with the pan juices, and a bit of peeled, seeded and finely chopped fresh tomato. Drink a Chinon or a Bourgeuil.
• Variations
• Provençal I: Cut 4-6 cloves garlic into slivers. Make fairly deep incisions in the leg and alternate garlic and anchovy fillets in the incisions (you will not need to add much salt to this anchovied leg). Roast. Serve with a ratatouille and drink a Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
• Provençal II: Make incisions in the leg and stuff with garlic, pistachio nuts, and anchovies, pushing them deep into the incisions. Rub the leg with a touch of thyme and summer savory and roast. Salt lightly and serve with a gratin of eggplant. Drink a well-chilled Tavel.

LEG OF LAMB WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Pat lamb dry and score fat by making shallow cuts all over with tip of a sharp small knife.
• Pound garlic to a paste with sea salt using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a heavy knife) and stir together with rosemary and pepper. Put lamb in a lightly oiled roasting pan, then rub paste all over lamb. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Roast lamb in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into thickest part of meat (do not touch bone) registers 130°F, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 15 to 25 minutes (internal temperature will rise to about 140°F for medium-rare).
• Add wine to pan and deglaze by boiling over moderately high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Season pan juices with salt and pepper and serve with lamb.

GARLIC-ROASTED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a blender, process oil, garlic, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper until smooth and emulsified, scraping down the sides as needed.
• Place lamb, fat side up, on a rack set on a roasting pan; spread garlic paste all over lamb. Roast in oven until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 135 degrees for medium rare, about 2 hours.
• Transfer lamb to a platter, and discard string; keep warm while you make the Pan Sauce. Slice lamb just before serving.

HERB-ROASTED LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place the oven rack in the lower third of the oven so the lamb will sit in the middle of the oven.
• Peel 6 of the cloves of garlic and place them in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the rosemary, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, and butter. Process until the garlic and rosemary are finely minced. Thoroughly coat the top and sides of the lamb with the rosemary mixture. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Toss the potatoes and remaining unpeeled garlic in a bowl with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place in the bottom of a large roasting pan. Place the lamb on top of the potatoes. Roast for 20 minutes. Turn the heat down to 350 degrees F and roast for another 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until a meat thermometer registers 130 to 135 degrees F for medium-rare. Place the lamb on a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Slice and serve with the potatoes.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH GARLIC AND HERBS

Steps:

• Use a paring knife to make a dozen small slits in the meat. Tuck garlic slivers into slits. Place meat in a baking dish.
• In a small bowl, stir together oil, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Pour marinade over lamb, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate, basting occasionally with the marinade, for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees with rack positioned to fit the lamb in a roasting pan. Remove lamb from refrigerator, uncover, and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat a roasting pan with oil.
• Transfer lamb to a rack fitted in the prepared pan, reserving leftover marinade. Season meat with salt and pepper. Roast lamb, basting every 20 to 30 minutes, first with the reserved marinade, and then with juices that accumulate in the pan. The lamb will need to cook for about 20 minutes per pound (2 hours for a 6-pound leg of lamb; 2 hours and 40 minutes for 8 pounds). An instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat, not touching the bone, should read 145 degrees when the lamb is medium-rare.
• Remove pan from oven and transfer lamb to a cutting board. Cover to keep warm; let rest for 20 minutes before carving. Pour pan juices into a fat separator or glass measuring cup; spoon off any fat that rises to the surface and discard. Cover juices to keep warm while lamb rests; add any juices that collect as the lamb sits.
• Carve lamb, and arrange slices on a large warm platter; drizzle with reserved pan juices just before serving.